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London, 1851
Former thief Jovan Davenport is the black sheep in a family of powerful sorcerers. But when his dying father�head of the League of Illusion�reaches out for help, Jovan has no choice but to accept. He must find his missing brother Sebastian and stop the power-hungry Hawthorne family from taking control of the council. If only they'd appointed someone other than Skylar Vanguard to help him in his quest.
Skylar, a druid and accomplished tracker, has spent three years trying to forget her past, especially Jovan Davenport. Once in love, she left Jovan when she discovered his betrayal. She wants nothing to do with him or his family, but must obey the council's will by accompanying Jovan and reporting back on his progress.
Forced to work alongside each other, neither of them expects their passion to return so quickly. But as the conspiracy deepens in a steam-powered world of dirigibles and mechanical golems, will their secrets stand in the way of their mission…and their love?
45,000 words
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2012
25 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Vivi Anna
91 books327 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her original unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in ancient Egypt, or in an apocalyptic future, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.
When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds. Oh and on twitter at @authorViviAnna.
When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds. Oh and on twitter at @authorViviAnna.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 9, 2013
Jovan, a magician, is called home to his dying father's bedside. His father is the head of The League of Illusion, a governing body of magic users. Jovan is the black sheep of the family. He and his brother Rhys have A HISTORY with much bad blood. His father tasks them with teaming up to find their older brother Sebastian who has been missing for several years. They bring in a Druid tracker who happens to be Jovan's former flame, Skylar.
Cue some angst and some action.
I liked the world with its mix of magic and a touch of steampunk gadgetry. The romance was all right. I felt the inevitableness of it all, but the coupling just sort of happened in the end. And the end was really quick.
Also, the main issue of the book is still ongoing, although the relationship issues have been settled. So romance wise, you're good, but story wise, you're kind of in the middle of things.
I have to say that I didn't think that Skylar and Jovan's issues were dealt with so much as they were done away with. There was a step or two missing there. It was a really quick read.
I felt like we got a good start to something. Like I mentioned before, I kind of dig the world and we haven't seen that much of it yet. I actually think that Rhys is more my type of hero, and his book is next.
[received an ARC to review]
Cue some angst and some action.
I liked the world with its mix of magic and a touch of steampunk gadgetry. The romance was all right. I felt the inevitableness of it all, but the coupling just sort of happened in the end. And the end was really quick.
Also, the main issue of the book is still ongoing, although the relationship issues have been settled. So romance wise, you're good, but story wise, you're kind of in the middle of things.
I have to say that I didn't think that Skylar and Jovan's issues were dealt with so much as they were done away with. There was a step or two missing there. It was a really quick read.
I felt like we got a good start to something. Like I mentioned before, I kind of dig the world and we haven't seen that much of it yet. I actually think that Rhys is more my type of hero, and his book is next.
[received an ARC to review]
November 22, 2012
To honor his father's dying wish, devil may care Jovian must team up with his much more serious brother Rhys to find Sebastian, their missing older brother and heir to their father's position on the League (mage)council. But in order to find Sebastian who went missing without a trace five years ago they must employ the aid of the council's best tracker,Skylar, the woman who Jovan loved - the woman who wants nothing more to do with him. But with others coveting Jovan's father's position and power, throwing stumbling blocks in the way of their search, Jovan will have to make amends for mistakes in his past and repair his relationship with Skylar and Rhys if they hope to succeed.
I liked this first book in what I suspect is a trilogy with a book for Jovan and his brothers, but the story is very thin, and all of the conflicts thrown in rakish-rarely-serious Jovan's path are quickly and easily resolved. Additionally, the family's nemesis, Darin, is a bit hard to take seriously after an earlier encounter with his own father - who does not think highly of our bad guy - I spent the whole story thinking of Darin as an incompetent dufus. Since I got this as a kindle ARC I don't have a good idea of the actually length but The League of Illusion: Legacy felt like a short story, though it may have weighed in at novella length.
Still it was a fun short read, with a bit of magic, a touch of steam and a smidgeon of steampunky goodness in the background.
ARC via Netgalley - release date 12/31/12
I liked this first book in what I suspect is a trilogy with a book for Jovan and his brothers, but the story is very thin, and all of the conflicts thrown in rakish-rarely-serious Jovan's path are quickly and easily resolved. Additionally, the family's nemesis, Darin, is a bit hard to take seriously after an earlier encounter with his own father - who does not think highly of our bad guy - I spent the whole story thinking of Darin as an incompetent dufus. Since I got this as a kindle ARC I don't have a good idea of the actually length but The League of Illusion: Legacy felt like a short story, though it may have weighed in at novella length.
Still it was a fun short read, with a bit of magic, a touch of steam and a smidgeon of steampunky goodness in the background.
ARC via Netgalley - release date 12/31/12
November 23, 2012
The Davenport family have led the League of Illusion for years and are a very powerful magic druid family. The eldest son, Sebastian, has gone missing and their father is dying. Rys and Jovan Davenort must find their brother before the solstice or another family will be put in power, The Hawthornes.
Skylar Vanguard is one of the best trackers of the League of Illusions. The Davenports request her help and even though she wants to stay as far away from Jovan as possible she will help his family and keep the Hawthornes out of power.
Jovan and Sklyar have loved each other for years but a tragic betrayal has kept them apart. Since they are now working together the chemistry is rekindled, but can they overcome the past to create a better future? Many are against them, many want to kill them and ultimately power is behind it all.
I really enjoyed this steampunk adventure. There were lots of great gadgets, action, magic, and romance...everything you need for a great new series. I didn’t form a connection to the characters but still found the story very entertaining. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and solving the mystery of Sebastian’s disappearance.
This ARC copy of League of Illusion was given to me by Netgalley and Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: December 31, 2012
Skylar Vanguard is one of the best trackers of the League of Illusions. The Davenports request her help and even though she wants to stay as far away from Jovan as possible she will help his family and keep the Hawthornes out of power.
Jovan and Sklyar have loved each other for years but a tragic betrayal has kept them apart. Since they are now working together the chemistry is rekindled, but can they overcome the past to create a better future? Many are against them, many want to kill them and ultimately power is behind it all.
I really enjoyed this steampunk adventure. There were lots of great gadgets, action, magic, and romance...everything you need for a great new series. I didn’t form a connection to the characters but still found the story very entertaining. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and solving the mystery of Sebastian’s disappearance.
This ARC copy of League of Illusion was given to me by Netgalley and Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: December 31, 2012
February 14, 2013
Good ideas. Not enough pages to fulfill them all.
My biggest disappointment in this book, by far, was the romance. This could be, in part, due to my personal peeve of the reunited lovers storyline. I prefer to read about that first meeting and the build up of love and romance. With this book you have two characters with a painful breakup past thrown together to thwart evil by finding the lost brother. In some cases it works but I'm not sure it did here. There was so much rehashing of the past I'm surprised they fell in love again. It's hard to move towards the future when you are stuck in the past.
In addition to the romance aspect, the characters fell flat for me. They were not underdeveloped just inconsistent. Jovan starts the book out with an "I'll do what I want. I'm magic Baby. That's how I roll!" attitude about his abilities but by the end (which is only a few short days) he does a total 180 and he's so smitten with Skylar he's ready to accept consequences for all of his actions over the years. In addition as much as this is Jovan and Skylar's story it was his brother who seemed to be more of a hero.
The mystery aspect of the book as a whole also falls short as the entire storyline is left dangling for further exploration in future books. The bad guys sail off into the sunset and the good guys end up on trial for their past. None of which screams HEA to me.
The book is really short (more of a novella) and many of these plot threads could have been fleshed out more and had more conclusions if it were longer but what action it had was good. Skylar had an interesting tracking ability (although it could have been utilized more) and Jovan's remaining brother is intriguing.
I might have rated this book higher if not for the last scene in the book which was a sex scene between the bad guy and his woman. It was not romantic and frankly it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I enjoy a good sex scene in my romances but it has to be well written and appropriate to the book and to the timing. This one did nothing to enhance the book other than to potentially meet a sex scene quota (I don't know if there is such a thing but it's the only logical conclusion I can come up with.) The scene could have been cut. It would have only helped the book in the long run.
With all that said I will read more by Vivi Anna. Her writing style was pleasant to read and her ideas are good. This book just didn't do it for me. 2.5 Stars
My biggest disappointment in this book, by far, was the romance. This could be, in part, due to my personal peeve of the reunited lovers storyline. I prefer to read about that first meeting and the build up of love and romance. With this book you have two characters with a painful breakup past thrown together to thwart evil by finding the lost brother. In some cases it works but I'm not sure it did here. There was so much rehashing of the past I'm surprised they fell in love again. It's hard to move towards the future when you are stuck in the past.
In addition to the romance aspect, the characters fell flat for me. They were not underdeveloped just inconsistent. Jovan starts the book out with an "I'll do what I want. I'm magic Baby. That's how I roll!" attitude about his abilities but by the end (which is only a few short days) he does a total 180 and he's so smitten with Skylar he's ready to accept consequences for all of his actions over the years. In addition as much as this is Jovan and Skylar's story it was his brother who seemed to be more of a hero.
The mystery aspect of the book as a whole also falls short as the entire storyline is left dangling for further exploration in future books. The bad guys sail off into the sunset and the good guys end up on trial for their past. None of which screams HEA to me.
The book is really short (more of a novella) and many of these plot threads could have been fleshed out more and had more conclusions if it were longer but what action it had was good. Skylar had an interesting tracking ability (although it could have been utilized more) and Jovan's remaining brother is intriguing.
I might have rated this book higher if not for the last scene in the book which was a sex scene between the bad guy and his woman. It was not romantic and frankly it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I enjoy a good sex scene in my romances but it has to be well written and appropriate to the book and to the timing. This one did nothing to enhance the book other than to potentially meet a sex scene quota (I don't know if there is such a thing but it's the only logical conclusion I can come up with.) The scene could have been cut. It would have only helped the book in the long run.
With all that said I will read more by Vivi Anna. Her writing style was pleasant to read and her ideas are good. This book just didn't do it for me. 2.5 Stars
November 19, 2012
The League of Illusion: Legacy is the first in a steampunk/gaslight series where a secret society of magic co-exists alongside Victorian London. The head of the Davenport family is the head of this league and needs to find his heir because he is ill and likely going to die. The leader recruits his two sons, Jovan and Rhys to locate his eldest, Sebastian, to take on the mantle; however, Sebastian has been missing for years and the brothers get aid from the league in the form of druid, Skylar Vanguard, Jovan’s former almost fiancé.
I found this novella to have a large emphasis on the adventure and the locating of the missing brother, and the romance between Jovan and Skyler didn’t overpower that search and the other political factors happening within the league. It was a very action packed novella and the pacing was very steady and even considering the format. And while I did enjoy the novella there were certain aspects that I didn’t care for.
What I did like in the novella was Jovan’s relationship with his straight-laced brother Rhys. I loved Rhys and he is why I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. It was great to see how they both were able to repair their relationship despite Jovan’s troublemaking actions as a young man.
What I didn’t like in the novella was what had driven Jovan and Skyler apart. It wasn’t until closer to the end where readers are clued into why Jovan and Skyler split and I felt that drawing this out really led the reader to expect something more dramatic to have caused the split. I was expecting something much worse than what Jovan had actually done – but then perhaps I have been reading too many other dramatic historical romances of late.
Overall, I think this one was a good start to a series. While I didn’t love the characters of Jovan and Skyler, I did like Rhys and his meeting with the mysterious Corina. I was pretty jazzed when I read the promo for the next book in the series and realized that it would feature Rhys and Corina. Legacy wasn’t a perfect read for me but the unresolved mystery of Sebastian’s disappearance and more of Rhys and Corina will keep me coming back for the next installment.
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I found this novella to have a large emphasis on the adventure and the locating of the missing brother, and the romance between Jovan and Skyler didn’t overpower that search and the other political factors happening within the league. It was a very action packed novella and the pacing was very steady and even considering the format. And while I did enjoy the novella there were certain aspects that I didn’t care for.
What I did like in the novella was Jovan’s relationship with his straight-laced brother Rhys. I loved Rhys and he is why I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. It was great to see how they both were able to repair their relationship despite Jovan’s troublemaking actions as a young man.
What I didn’t like in the novella was what had driven Jovan and Skyler apart. It wasn’t until closer to the end where readers are clued into why Jovan and Skyler split and I felt that drawing this out really led the reader to expect something more dramatic to have caused the split. I was expecting something much worse than what Jovan had actually done – but then perhaps I have been reading too many other dramatic historical romances of late.
Overall, I think this one was a good start to a series. While I didn’t love the characters of Jovan and Skyler, I did like Rhys and his meeting with the mysterious Corina. I was pretty jazzed when I read the promo for the next book in the series and realized that it would feature Rhys and Corina. Legacy wasn’t a perfect read for me but the unresolved mystery of Sebastian’s disappearance and more of Rhys and Corina will keep me coming back for the next installment.
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
May 19, 2013
Where do I begin? I do hate to give low ratings and bad reviews, but in this case, I wish there was a rating lower than 1 star. The basic story line of this steampunk novel is promising. Sebastian Davenport has been missing for 5 years. Now, his father Blake, the head of the League of Illusion, is dying, and if his successor, Sebastian, is not found before the Summer Solstice, leadership of the League will go to another, much less honorable family. It's up to Sebastian's brothers, the playboy/ex-thief Jovan and the reserved and noble Rhys, to find him. To help in the search, they call in Druid tracker Skylar Vanguard, who it just so happens had a torrid affair with Jovan 7 years earlier that ended with her heart broken by his thievery and lies. Will they find Sebastian in time, or will their enemies, who do not operate within the law, defeat them and take over the League?
The basic premise of the book was a good one and could have been done very well. However, the book was just generally terribly written. The main characters are not very likable and sound more like "petulant children" (to borrow a phrase from Skylar in the book), constantly bickering with one another, and the dialogue is awful. There are also parts of the story that just don't make sense. Jovan supposedly "left no stone unturned" when Sebastian first disappeared, yet within a few hours Skylar manages to find out that Sebastian had been in love but had accidentally killed the woman he loved just before he disappeared. She talked to one person to discover this, and she didn't even have to use her druid tracking powers to find this person. How hard could they really have looked? All the stuff about keys and doors and time travelling was just not very well explained, although I do see that it's a set-up for the second novel in the series, which I will NOT be reading. I would have been expecting the poor quality of this book if it had been something I had downloaded for free. I allow for poor editing, etc., in that situation. However, this is something that I downloaded from my public library's ebook collection, which they pay a lot of money for content for, so I expected much better.
The basic premise of the book was a good one and could have been done very well. However, the book was just generally terribly written. The main characters are not very likable and sound more like "petulant children" (to borrow a phrase from Skylar in the book), constantly bickering with one another, and the dialogue is awful. There are also parts of the story that just don't make sense. Jovan supposedly "left no stone unturned" when Sebastian first disappeared, yet within a few hours Skylar manages to find out that Sebastian had been in love but had accidentally killed the woman he loved just before he disappeared. She talked to one person to discover this, and she didn't even have to use her druid tracking powers to find this person. How hard could they really have looked? All the stuff about keys and doors and time travelling was just not very well explained, although I do see that it's a set-up for the second novel in the series, which I will NOT be reading. I would have been expecting the poor quality of this book if it had been something I had downloaded for free. I allow for poor editing, etc., in that situation. However, this is something that I downloaded from my public library's ebook collection, which they pay a lot of money for content for, so I expected much better.
January 16, 2013
Meh. Really, that's about it.
I really wanted to like this book. In fact, I really enjoyed the universe. It has great potential, but it also suffers from 'been there, done that'.
A secret magical society whose primary goal is...duh duh dummmm...to keep magic secret. And from actually having it be done by any but a select few who are strong enough to not actually do the magic because it should be kept secret anyway.
Or something like that.
And of course we have a villain who is working in the background to take over the council and rule them all.
Or something like that.
Actually, my biggest beef is the hero. He comes off as an entitled, fraternity jerk who gets by on his looks and family connections. In fact, I wanted the villain to just kill this 'hero' so the heroine could hook up with his older brother instead. Perhaps if he had been more likeable, I wouldn't have had a problem with the fact that the heroine is hung up on that jerk from the past who took her virginity at 17ish. Really, get over it already.
The other problem is that the main characters are in the mid-20's came off as being younger. I was much more interested in the stick in the mud older brother, Rhys.
Although, not terrible, there's nothing really here. The world could have been really interesting, but it's mired in the ho-humness of well trodden tropes. An unlikeable hero made, what should have been a strong heroine, seem naive and shallow.
I really wanted to like this book. In fact, I really enjoyed the universe. It has great potential, but it also suffers from 'been there, done that'.
A secret magical society whose primary goal is...duh duh dummmm...to keep magic secret. And from actually having it be done by any but a select few who are strong enough to not actually do the magic because it should be kept secret anyway.
Or something like that.
And of course we have a villain who is working in the background to take over the council and rule them all.
Or something like that.
Actually, my biggest beef is the hero. He comes off as an entitled, fraternity jerk who gets by on his looks and family connections. In fact, I wanted the villain to just kill this 'hero' so the heroine could hook up with his older brother instead. Perhaps if he had been more likeable, I wouldn't have had a problem with the fact that the heroine is hung up on that jerk from the past who took her virginity at 17ish. Really, get over it already.
The other problem is that the main characters are in the mid-20's came off as being younger. I was much more interested in the stick in the mud older brother, Rhys.
Although, not terrible, there's nothing really here. The world could have been really interesting, but it's mired in the ho-humness of well trodden tropes. An unlikeable hero made, what should have been a strong heroine, seem naive and shallow.
December 6, 2012
2.5 stars
Can you say average?
I liked the idea behind the story, but it was all sooo AVERAGE. average storytelling, average world building ( what little there was) average plot, average characters, average average average...and yes there's some clock work bits and steam engines, but this never feels like a steampunk story. The romance, too was all kinds of average...I think because the book starts with them already knowing each other, it's hard to see what they see in each other. ...oh, and IIRC, there's only one( two at most) sex scene featuring the H and h, and another featuring the bad guys ( seriously, why do I need to read about the big bads nefarious sex life?) Plus in the summary, you know how it says that the H betrayed the h? Yeah that's never fully explained.
So, For the most part I thought this was okay, but near the end, I had to take a break...I actually did the dishes as well as laundry just to get away from this one... I'm not sure if it was boredom or frustration that kept me from picking this back up, but, it wasn't bad,really!, but oh so average...nothing really stood out or convinced me this was a series worth sticking with,,.so if you're waiting for another book to come out and just want to keep yourself busy, give this one a go...otherwise, I'd suggest you skip it....you're not missing anything.
February 6, 2013
Javon and Reese are brothers with fierce rivalry based on their history. When sent on a search for their brother Sebastian who had been missing for 7 years, they are joined by Skylar a druid woman and Javon's former lover.
I love how Skylar maintains her cool and is able to show the men that she can handle herself. Javon and Skylar's intense attraction keeps you wondering why they parted ways. My favorite character was Reese, so reserved and yet so brilliant with illusion. I hope book 2 brings him love and his own affair.
I think this book should be made into a SyFy, FX, or BBC TV series. I really enjoyed the characters and felt like I needed to tune in next week for more. SO... MORE PLEASE!
I love how Skylar maintains her cool and is able to show the men that she can handle herself. Javon and Skylar's intense attraction keeps you wondering why they parted ways. My favorite character was Reese, so reserved and yet so brilliant with illusion. I hope book 2 brings him love and his own affair.
I think this book should be made into a SyFy, FX, or BBC TV series. I really enjoyed the characters and felt like I needed to tune in next week for more. SO... MORE PLEASE!
January 4, 2013
I want to cry ;__; I was expecting such epicness and the book is average and it lacks steam. Jovan's relationship lacks steam, the worlbuild is poorly explored. But still I will keep reading the series, perhaps this was just an icy start! Lady of devices was also a poor start and the series got a lot better after that, so I am betting all my money on May! I want sky pirates, goggles, mad scientists and steamy sex of course! Give me that and I am a happy woman!
September 16, 2017
This was a good start to what I assume will be a series.
This was a fairly short story, but a lot happens. I liked the character development, which included the relationship between the brothers, and not just the requisite romance between Jovan and Skylar.
I felt like everything happened very fast, which given the length of the book, I guess was a necessity, but it did feel a bit rushed, like the author was slamming things in to make sure they all got done in a certain number of pages, rather than a slow build up of plot points.
The world-building especially got minimal attention here, which was a shame because I feel like this world has a lot of potential for some interesting things. Hopefully the world-building will be more of a focus in future books.
That said, I really did enjoy this. I liked the characters, the action and the resolution [even though we are left with some things unresolved]. I would definitely read future books in this series.
This was a fairly short story, but a lot happens. I liked the character development, which included the relationship between the brothers, and not just the requisite romance between Jovan and Skylar.
I felt like everything happened very fast, which given the length of the book, I guess was a necessity, but it did feel a bit rushed, like the author was slamming things in to make sure they all got done in a certain number of pages, rather than a slow build up of plot points.
The world-building especially got minimal attention here, which was a shame because I feel like this world has a lot of potential for some interesting things. Hopefully the world-building will be more of a focus in future books.
That said, I really did enjoy this. I liked the characters, the action and the resolution [even though we are left with some things unresolved]. I would definitely read future books in this series.
May 28, 2021
These are novellas so I expected a certain level of shallowness and I was not wrong. Jovien starts the book as an annoying, spoiled little prince and then at the end we’re told he’s not really that and has been making amends since the stuff happened 5? 7? years ago. I’d give it a C overall/2.5 stars
November 12, 2019
3.5 Stars / 2.5 Steam Fans
Video review available in Week 45 Nov 3 – 9 weekly book reviews.
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Video review available in Week 45 Nov 3 – 9 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk
May 9, 2013
My review cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...
Jovan Davenport is the black sheep of his family. His eagerness to use his magic is at odds with his father’s position governing the League of Illusion — a council that seeks to keep knowledge of magic from mortals. But with his father deathly ill, Jovan has no choice but to team up with his estranged brother, Rhys. The two are tasked with finding their missing brother, Sebastian, so that he can take his place as the head of the League before the evil, power-hungry Hawthorne clan can take over. To succeed in his quest, Jovan will need the help of a tracker. And not just any tracker, but druid Skylar Vanguard, the woman Jovan loved and lost seven years ago.
Brought together by necessity, Skylar and Jovan discover that even seven years apart cannot dispel the feelings they have for one another. Yet with Darin Hawthorne at their heels, determined to stop them from finding Sebastian, will Skylar and Jovan live long enough to rekindle their romance?
I have mixed feelings about Legacy. To begin with the good, I really liked the overarching premise of the League of Illusion series. The hunt for a missing sibling may not be a new trope, but Vivi Anna makes the hunt for Sebastian an engaging storyline that has me eager to read the next book in the series. With a bit of refinement (the paranormal and steampunk aspects of Legacy weren’t as streamlined as I would have liked), the world of the League of Illusion could be fascinating. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing how Ms. Anna’s worldbuilding develops over the course of the series.
At the heart of Legacy are Jovan and Skylar and this, I fear, is where the story fell flat for me. Neither hero nor heroine is particularly endearing (though they aren’t unlikeable) and there was no real pull to the romance for me. It’s hard for me to enjoy a story where I’m not invested in the protagonists. And while I love a good reunion romance, once revealed, the reason Skylar and Jovan were apart for seven years did not live up to the buildup. The obstacles in Jovan and Skylar’s relationship seemed to be a bit too easily overcome. As for the story’s villain, Darin Hawthorne seemed a bit too much the typical villain to really get me interested. However, I’m intrigued by Jovan’s brothers, so while Legacy may not go on my keeper shelf, I’m definitely going to read the next League of Illusion book, Prophecy.
Jovan Davenport is the black sheep of his family. His eagerness to use his magic is at odds with his father’s position governing the League of Illusion — a council that seeks to keep knowledge of magic from mortals. But with his father deathly ill, Jovan has no choice but to team up with his estranged brother, Rhys. The two are tasked with finding their missing brother, Sebastian, so that he can take his place as the head of the League before the evil, power-hungry Hawthorne clan can take over. To succeed in his quest, Jovan will need the help of a tracker. And not just any tracker, but druid Skylar Vanguard, the woman Jovan loved and lost seven years ago.
Brought together by necessity, Skylar and Jovan discover that even seven years apart cannot dispel the feelings they have for one another. Yet with Darin Hawthorne at their heels, determined to stop them from finding Sebastian, will Skylar and Jovan live long enough to rekindle their romance?
I have mixed feelings about Legacy. To begin with the good, I really liked the overarching premise of the League of Illusion series. The hunt for a missing sibling may not be a new trope, but Vivi Anna makes the hunt for Sebastian an engaging storyline that has me eager to read the next book in the series. With a bit of refinement (the paranormal and steampunk aspects of Legacy weren’t as streamlined as I would have liked), the world of the League of Illusion could be fascinating. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing how Ms. Anna’s worldbuilding develops over the course of the series.
At the heart of Legacy are Jovan and Skylar and this, I fear, is where the story fell flat for me. Neither hero nor heroine is particularly endearing (though they aren’t unlikeable) and there was no real pull to the romance for me. It’s hard for me to enjoy a story where I’m not invested in the protagonists. And while I love a good reunion romance, once revealed, the reason Skylar and Jovan were apart for seven years did not live up to the buildup. The obstacles in Jovan and Skylar’s relationship seemed to be a bit too easily overcome. As for the story’s villain, Darin Hawthorne seemed a bit too much the typical villain to really get me interested. However, I’m intrigued by Jovan’s brothers, so while Legacy may not go on my keeper shelf, I’m definitely going to read the next League of Illusion book, Prophecy.
March 9, 2013
The League of Illusion, Legacy is a fairly typical steam punk novel set in a world of dirigibles and steam cars where magic exists unknown to the majority of the world. The story is about a sorcerer, Jovan and a Druid tracker, Skylar who are on a mission to find Jovan's older brother, so he can take over their dying father's place at the head of the council of magic. Skylar and Jovan were lovers once and the attraction hasn't gone away, but past hurts must be faced and forgiven before the two can resume their relationship. That's the gist of the romance.
Of course, every story must have an antagonist, and this one has Darin, a sorcerer who tries to stop Jovan from finding his brother so that Darin can take the seat at the head of the council for himself. Perhaps I have read too many stories like this, but Darin seemed a little too much the stereotypical evil sleaze bag. Not only does he want the seat on the council, he wants Skylar and doesn't care whether she wants him or not. I found the interactions between Skylar, Jovan and Darin, just a little too predictable and somewhat reminiscent of other such stories. The sex scene felt unnecessary, more an addition to the story than an integral part of it, and the prose could have been better.
The story is tight, the plot solid and the pacing good, but the end comes a little too easily. Overall, it's an entertaining enough read, but, for me, it lacked substance and originality. Carina Press churns out stories like this and I've read quite a few of them, so perhaps it's not surprising that this one felt like more of the same, but others have the sparkle of inspiration behind them that this one lacks.
I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review
Of course, every story must have an antagonist, and this one has Darin, a sorcerer who tries to stop Jovan from finding his brother so that Darin can take the seat at the head of the council for himself. Perhaps I have read too many stories like this, but Darin seemed a little too much the stereotypical evil sleaze bag. Not only does he want the seat on the council, he wants Skylar and doesn't care whether she wants him or not. I found the interactions between Skylar, Jovan and Darin, just a little too predictable and somewhat reminiscent of other such stories. The sex scene felt unnecessary, more an addition to the story than an integral part of it, and the prose could have been better.
The story is tight, the plot solid and the pacing good, but the end comes a little too easily. Overall, it's an entertaining enough read, but, for me, it lacked substance and originality. Carina Press churns out stories like this and I've read quite a few of them, so perhaps it's not surprising that this one felt like more of the same, but others have the sparkle of inspiration behind them that this one lacks.
I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review
August 21, 2013
First, just let me tell you that I liked it.
That being said, it felt more like a piece of a story than the whole shebang. I mean, Jovan and Skylar were lovers in the long long ago who split up under duress and are just now (seven years later) talking for the first time. They don���t really resolve some of the issues that lead to their split. And by that I mean there was one real doozy that was never revealed or spoken of again. Seriously kids, you can���t tell me something like ���I never told him that blah blah went out of their way to fuck up our chances of being together��� and then never discuss it again.
That���s just mean.
Still, it was an entertaining quick read of the steampunk variety with interesting characters, some quirky magic, and a good snippet of romance and a good overall ���this is the arc for what is most probably a trilogy���
3 stars
That being said, it felt more like a piece of a story than the whole shebang. I mean, Jovan and Skylar were lovers in the long long ago who split up under duress and are just now (seven years later) talking for the first time. They don���t really resolve some of the issues that lead to their split. And by that I mean there was one real doozy that was never revealed or spoken of again. Seriously kids, you can���t tell me something like ���I never told him that blah blah went out of their way to fuck up our chances of being together��� and then never discuss it again.
That���s just mean.
Still, it was an entertaining quick read of the steampunk variety with interesting characters, some quirky magic, and a good snippet of romance and a good overall ���this is the arc for what is most probably a trilogy���
3 stars
January 19, 2013
Fantastic, a part of romance, a part of magic, a part of steampunk and a lot of fun! It has been ages since I read something similar, sooo looking foward the next one!
Fantastico, un po' di storia d'amore, un po' di magia, un po' di steampunk e un sacco di divertimento. Era tanto che un libro non mi piaceva così! Non vedo l'ora esca il prossimo!
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND CARINA PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW
Fantastico, un po' di storia d'amore, un po' di magia, un po' di steampunk e un sacco di divertimento. Era tanto che un libro non mi piaceva così! Non vedo l'ora esca il prossimo!
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND CARINA PRESS FOR THE PREVIEW
May 1, 2013
I read Prophecy, book two in this series first, and really enjoyed it. I also liked this book but not quite as well. The story is intriguing, the characters interesting and the plot imaginative. The story could have been rounded out more. Definitely worth a read.
Heat Rating: Mild detailed scenes of intimacy, mild violence or profanity.
Rating: 4.0
Reviewed By: ReadWarrior, My Book Addiction Reviews
Heat Rating: Mild detailed scenes of intimacy, mild violence or profanity.
Rating: 4.0
Reviewed By: ReadWarrior, My Book Addiction Reviews
January 26, 2017
I read Prophecy, book two in this series first, and really enjoyed it. I also liked this book but not quite as well. The story is intriguing, the characters interesting and the plot imaginative. The story could have been rounded out more. Definitely worth a read.
January 11, 2015
Interesting premise. I wish it was fleshed out a little more and the steam elements were a little light, but I enjoyed the story and will continue the series.
March 24, 2014
Best of the three books in the trilogy but still nothing to write home about.
May 22, 2015
Looking forward to the second book in the trilogy.
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